With my best friend Laura being a world class travel agent and only a few weeks left before my departure I made the trek down to the Gold Coast to finally secure my flights. Funny thing is that when I was supposed to book my flights, Laura was too busy to process them so we decided to wait until she returned from two weeks overseas. I was admittedly a little stressed at first knowing how expensive flights become when you leave it to the last minute to book. However, I decided to let go of the stress and instead focus only on the image of myself getting a really good deal on flights instead of paying top dollar.

As it would happen America’s economy took a backward step during these two weeks, losing their AAA rating and effectively meaning that my flights dropped in price by almost a thousand dollars, Yay for me!!! (Sorry, as sad as this was for the States it was very economical for me…) With so much working in my favour I was getting more and more excited and found it easier and easier to stay positive and not let the little things worry me. I was finally able to breath and just believe that this was going to be the best holiday ever and that I wouldn’t have any problems along the way.

So late into the night I found myself most days busily researching all of the options available to me in Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and most importantly Costa Rica. The more I read about Costa Rica the more excited I became and decided that I really wanted to write about my travels. I didn’t want to write the typical travel blog, I wanted to capture something a little more special than just the touristy stuff.  I wanted to write about the culture, the people I met, the lives that they live, their beliefs, their attitudes, their trials and tribulations and how my personal journey has been affected by these encounters.

I was going to be spending effectively seventeen days in Costa Rica so I decided to spend five or so days with my friends and travel on my own for the remainder. When I mentioned my plans and ideas for tours to my friend Michelle, she promptly told me to hold off on booking anything until I heard back from her. The following day I received an email telling me that a very good friend of her sons was a personal guide. So for a daily rate plus fuel he would be my guide picking me up from the airport and taking me on a ten day road trip around Costa Rica before taking me to meet with them in Hermosa Heights.

So effectively for the same money I had budgeted for the five or six tours and transport I could have my own personal tour guide, translator, negotiator and travel companion for the first ten days.  Of course I jumped at the opportunity as I trusted my friends’ recommendation without question. It had only been a week earlier that I had been telling some friends that I just wished that I had someone to show me around that could speak Spanish and show me the real Costa Rica not just the tourist stuff.

Well it would seem that the universe had heard my request and again delivered All I knew about my guide was that his name was Roy; he was a Tico (Costa Rican male), spoke fluent English, had long dreadlocks, was covered in tattoos, liked spear fishing and was a long trusted friend of my friends. With all of this in place I simply worked out my dates for travelling and staying with my friends and left the remainder of my trip blank until I arrived in San Jose. I don’t think it even occurred to me that we might not get along and then have to spend ten days together. I guess I just trusted that I had been asking for this so surely we would get along, wouldn’t we?

Note: When you are booking overseas travel it really is worth your while to visit a good travel agent, someone you get along with and feel comfortable doing business. They are experts in what they do and know exactly how to find and get you the best prices and deals on flights, seats, accommodation and tours  that you can’t always access online. However, when it comes to domestic flights within a country or within Australia you are much better off buying these online as agents do not get any special deals on these flights. They pay exactly what you pay.

Until next time,

Janie xo